DETECTION OF MYCOBACTERIUM AVIUM SUBSP. PARATUBERCULOSIS IN COWS RAW MILK BY POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION (PCR) IN SHIRAZ, IRAN

Background and Aim:Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) has been considered as a great concern to the dairy industries and public health for the last decade. The potential role of the bacterium to cause Crohn’s disease in human has also remained unresolved. MAP is a known cause of chronic enteritis in animals, including primates, but may be very difficult to detect by conventional culture. The microorganism is mainly excreted in the feces of an infected animal, but it can also be observed in a lower amount in the milk. Hence, dairy products from infected animals are presented as a route of its transmission. Both raw and pasteurized cows milk is potential vehicles of transmission of MAP to humans.Methods:DNA extracts of the total of 100 cow s raw milk were prepared using the phenol-chloroform method. IS900 PCR assay using the primers P90, GAA GGG TGT TCG GGG CCG TCG CTT AGG and P91, GGC GTT GAG GTC GAT CGC CCA CGT GAC were employed for amplification cycles..Results:The PCR assay was generated a 413 bp product corresponding to MAP in 15% of the samples.Conclusion:Despite the low incidence of MAP infection in the dairy products, further studies should be conducted to get more precise information on MAP infection in dairy cow using quick and reliable techniques, especially in areas where animals are maintaining together

Keywords:

Crohn s disease , M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis , Raw milk , PCR